Chapter 20
"Get back here!" Jessie shouted, panting a little as she partially ran and climbed up the mountain trail after the thieving little critter. She didn't even realize where they were headed, but even then Tifa's warnings about staying away from Mt. Nibel would have fallen on deaf ears.
I'm taking back what I said about you being actually kinda cute! Jessie thought as she rested against the side of a rock, watching as it scurried away tirelessly on its many legs.
"Un...fair," Jessie complained and pushed herself forward again.
It headed down a path that split off the main one, curving around like a snake about to strangle its poor victim, before vanishing into a cave. She stopped in front of it, nearly doubling down as she tried to catch her breath. Looking up at the sky, Jessie saw that it was getting darker. She needed to get her shell and get back to town. Cissnei was probably worried sick by now.
Alright, end of the road for you, Jessie thought and stood up straight. If the thing was going to cause trouble, she would sicc her summon at it.
The first thing she noticed about the space she entered was that it was obviously man made, as it was more of a chamber than a cave. The second was the thieving critter, holding her shell in its grubby little hands and letting out a series of clicks before placing it on what looked like some sort of altar.
The sight itself weirded her out, but it was no where near the level of aggravation that she was feeling right now. Jessie walked towards it, eyes glaring holes into the back of its creepy little head. When it finally seemed to notice her presence, it let out a little shriek and scurried away, climbing up one of the walls and vanishing into a hole near the top.
"Coward," Jessie snorted, then turned her attention to what belonged to her. She snatched the shell away, inspecting the chain. Great, completely snapped. Little piece of—
Her thoughts trailed off as her gaze took in her surroundings more. The walls were covered in paintings and carvings of which she had never seen the likes of before. A bit more in the middle was another sort of altar, but aligned in a different way. And behind the main altar she spotted a statue.
If that critter from just now looked ugly, then this was truly alien. An even more horrendous cross between a goat and spider, was carved out of the wall. It looked like it was seated, arms spread out invitingly and revealing its bulging red stomach for everyone to see. The eyes carved into the statue looked ahead, keeping watch over everything and everyone inside.
Jessie locked her gaze with one set of them and had to wince when a sharp pain shot through her head. Then after the pain, she felt something else; a buzzing in the back of her mind, slithering and convulsing around the edge of her sanity, trying to wiggle inside like a worm in a rotten apple. She tried to tear her eyes away, but to no avail, and instead found herself drawn to this idol, her feet carrying herself closer and closer towards it.
Tentatively, her hand reached out almost on its own and placed itself on the materia that formed the belly. A deep rumbling went through the cave –or was it just in her mind? – and the materia started to glow a bright red that forced her to shut her eyes.
When the light faded again, she felt the wind on her skin, brushing against her cheek. A shriek next to her made her open her eyes once again to find herself standing in the middle of a road. Someone ran towards her, panic in their eyes, and Jessie was flung to the ground as the person pushed her roughly aside.
More people ran past her, forcing her to curl into a ball, and soon chaos broke loose, screams and gunshots echoing through the air. Jessie rolled to the side, barely managing not to get trampled as everyone around her went raving mad. She quickly got back onto her feet and looked around at the nightmare unfurling in front of her.
A giant shadow turned the day into the blackest of nights, and thunder crashed through the air amidst all the other sounds; a symphony of madness defying all logic.
Fear gripped her entire being when something reached out towards Sector 0, before a cascade of horror was raining down on Midgar.
No no no no no nononononononono!
A sound like she had never heard before came from behind her, so loud that her eardrums could've burst, and despite every fibre of her being screaming at her not to do it, she turned around.
There, up in the sky, partially covered by the clouds was a giant eye. Inside it, a thousand smaller eyes looked upon the people of Midgar as they all went mad at the sight of this...impossibility. Something shifted inside it, and Jessie could feel some its amber irises taking note of her. Staring at her. Through her. To her very core.
And Jessie screamed.
Cissnei ran as fast as she could, following Zack as he led the way up the mountain trail that Jessie had chased that monster towards.
"Why is Jessie chasing a monster!?"
"I have no idea. They're usually harmless," Zack replied.
"Usually!?"
"Well, she is chasing the little guy, isn't she!?"
Cissnei didn't really have a comeback for that, so instead asked: "What is that creature?"
"We call it a Dugafel. A little helper of the mountain. They're generally friendly unless provoked, taking care of various things to, well, help the people living in the area."
"So, like a spidery groundskeeper?" she asked with a raised brow.
"Yeah," Zack replied with a laugh despite the situation. "And house maids in a way. They adore children."
A frown crossed her features. She only had gotten a far away look at it, but she had a hard time imagining a child not being scared of it.
The two of them came to a halt when the path split, one leading further up the mountain, the other down a winding path.
"Where to?"
Zack's face became grim, and he slowly turned towards the other path. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Why?" Cissnei walked over to him. "What's down there?"
He shook his head. "No time. Come on!" he grabbed her hand and all but dragged her down the path until the two of them arrived at a cave. She was about to ask again, when a scream echoed from the inside.
"Jessie!" she shouted, and ran towards the entrance, mind immediately going blank. If something happened to her...
Zack was immediately behind her and the two stepped inside. There was Jessie, backing away from some hideous looking idol, waving her arms around like she was fighting off something.
"Back off. I said back off!" Jessie shouted, her eyes wide in terror. She let out another shout as she stumbled over the altar behind her, landing harshly on the ground, but immediately scrambling back to her feet, holding a hand out between herself and whatever she was addressing. "I'm serious!"
"Jessie!" Cissnei called out to her, but she didn't seem to hear. She watched as Jessie's other hand shakily moved towards one of her pockets and pulled out a bright red orb.
"Is that—"
"Oh, no!" Jessie held out the materia in front of her, and it slowly started to glow. "We need to stop her."
"Gotcha!" Without hesitation, Zack rushed towards Jessie, grabbing both of her hands and trying to push her back, but she put up a surprisingly good fight despite his SOLDIER enhancements.
"LET GO, LET GO!" Jessie screamed, now completely panicking, lashing out with her legs and even biting Zack's arm to make him release her.
"Ow!"
Cissnei rushed in as well, hands immediately going for the materia to wrestle it out of her girlfriend's grasp before the summoning was complete. Jessie was much stronger than she expected, or perhaps it was just the adrenaline of her panic attack, but it took all of Cissnei's efforts to pry the little orb of ancient knowledge out of her hand. It dropped to the floor, where it bounced off the stone a few times before rolling to a stop. Its glow had intensified over their struggle and she feared that it might already be too late to stop whatever mystical creature of old was inside it to come out and bring the entire cave down on them.
A few agonizing seconds passed before the glow dimmed, then faded away. A sigh of relief escaped her.
"A little help here –ouch!– quit biting me!" Zack gritted out, prying his arm free. A few droplets of blood ran out of the bite marks that Jessie had left. Cissnei grabbed one of Jessie's arms so that Zack could focus on the other, and together they managed to push her up against one of the walls.
"LET GO OF ME! LET GO OF ME!" Jessie cried out, trying to break free. Tears started to spill from the corners of her eyes, and her struggling died down a little as she started to beg. "Please..."
The sight tore her heart in two.
Zack turned his head and gave her a nod. She returned it and let go of Jessie, leaving it to him to simply keep her in place. Gently, Cissnei cupped her cheeks and locked eyes with her. It was like she didn't even see her; looking instead at something far away.
"No!" Jessie tried to pull away, but Cissnei kept her firmly there.
"Shh, it's fine," Cissnei tried to soothe her. "It's me, Cissnei. You're safe."
"I'm here." She leaned in close, resting her forehead against her girlfriend's. "Nothing is going to harm you."
What little struggle that was still left in her soon dissipated as Cissnei kept talking to her, and little by little her gaze returned to the here and now.
"Ciss...nei?" Jessie finally asked.
"Yeah," she replied, gently brushing her tears away with her thumb. Cissnei gave Zack a look, making him release Jessie, before gathering her into a tight hug. The other immediately clung to her, burying her face into Cissnei's neck.
As they held one another, she glanced over to Zack, who gave her a grin and crossed his arms.
After a while of simply holding each other, Jessie pulled back.
"Are you alright?" Cissnei asked.
"Not really, honestly, but I'm feeling better," Jessie admitted with a weak smile. She looked about, as if she had never been in here before. "I—what is this place?"
"Ahem," came another voice from the entrance, making them all turn towards it. "Perhaps I can explain."
It was none other than Cloud Strife.
"I saw you running up here and wanted to see what was happening," he said, picking up the fallen summon materia while walking towards them and looking at them with a concerned expression. He rolled it in his hand, looking the three over.
Cloud released a breath through his nose, then turned to Zack. "So, what caused this in the first place?"
"Uh, I..." Zack rubbed the back of his neck and looked at Jessie.
"A little monster stole my necklace! I managed to chase it in here and get it back. Then I noticed the idol there and-" For a second, her eyes took on that far away look, before returning to normal. "And...then I was back in Midgar. On that day everything changed."
"So that's why you panicked," Cissnei said and circled an arm around her shoulders to comfort her.
"Yeah I—I remember everything now." Jessie ran a shaking hand through her hair. "But how?"
"Niblrung returned it to you. I don't know why, but he did," Cloud said.
"Nibelwho?"
"Niblrung," Cloud repeated. "The god who rules and protects these lands. He was the one that took away the traumatic memories of that day."
"Why would he do that?" Jessie asked.
"Because Niblrung isn't cruel. It was only Shinra that was to feel his hatred for what they did to these lands, and by extension the planet."
She shook her head sadly. "People still died that day...I...lost my home." After Jessie said those words, the statue began to glow once more.
"He says an upheaval was needed, or else the stagnation would have slowly drained the planet's life. If there was to be any future for our children, things had to be done," Cloud told them sagely.
Cissnei watched as Jessie lowered her head. "Couldn't there have been another way?"
"Listen," Zack then said. "Take it from me. You can't ask Shinra nicely."
"But—" Jessie looked at Cloud again. "So many people lost everything."
"But people now have a chance at a better life." He shifted his gaze between them. "Like you two."
Jessie turned to meet her eyes. If Shinra hadn't fallen, what would she be doing now? Spying on someone? Kidnap them? Assassinate them?
All for the good of the company?
She wasn't sure. What she was sure of was that she wouldn't have met Jessie and gotten closer to her; grown to love her.
Just looking into Jessie's eyes told her that she was having similar thoughts of her own, and Cissnei pulled her closer still.
They both had lost so much, but also gained much in return. And Cissnei didn't want to lose this.
Jessie sent her a little smile, taking hold of her hand and giving it a squeeze. She then returned her gaze to Cloud.
"I guess what's done is done," she said. "Only thing we can do is move forward."
"Mhm." Cloud nodded, before frowning. "But, now you know of our shrine."
"So?"
"This place is only for the fjallfolk."
"Cloud..." Zack gave him a pointed stare. "Come on, man."
The blond shook his head. "You know Niblrung's laws. Humans that enter here must be—"
"I don't think that will be necessary!"
Everyone turned towards the entrance to see Aerith walking inside. She gave the group a small grin.
"What do you mean?" Cloud asked, confusion evident in his voice.
Instead of answering, they watched the Ancient walk up towards the idol and kneel down to the ground to pick something up. She then walked past the altar and held up the seashell Jessie had found that one night so many months ago.
Aerith took Jessie's hand and placed it in her palm.
"My shell?" Jessie asked.
"I told you it brings good luck," Aerith replied with a wink, before turning towards Cloud. "Jessie isn't just any human. She's a messenger."
"What do you mean?" Cissnei asked.
"This isn't just any shell, either. It's a shell of the Sea Lady. Tell me, Jessie, have you had any strange dreams ever since you found it?"
Jessie looked stunned for a moment, but slowly nodded. "Yeah. I dreamt of a woman, with golden hair."
"That's her," Aerith said. "The mountain and the sea have been connected for a long time, even as the mountain was sleeping, their connection persisted."
The Ancient pointed at the shell. "This is a message from her to Niblrung. And you have been chosen by her to be her messenger."
Jessie's mouth opened and closed a few times before she finally managed to say: "W-why me? And how?"
"That I do not entirely know. I think she might have picked you because she could feel that you were missing something," Aerith said, slowly closing Jessie's hand around the shell. "You coming here was no coincidence. She guided you. And now you've regained what you've lost. Even if the execution might have been better."
That last one she said with a look towards the idol of Niblrung.
"I—and what now?" Jessie asked, at a loss.
"Now, I have to disappoint Cloud by telling him you two won't be joining our community, because you're needed elsewhere." She looked at the spiky haired young man and shrugged. "Sorry."
The pout forming on his face was almost comical.
"So...I was picked to be a messenger of some old and strange goddess to be what? A mailman?"
"Pretty much! Don't worry, it's not hard. You'll know what to do soon enough," Aerith said and patted her hand one last time before letting go.
Jessie closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "This entire thing sounds completely crazy, but after everything I've seen today I believe every word you just said...I'll do it."
Cissnei looked at her in surprise while Aerith clapped her hands in delight.
"That's great!"
"Jessie..." Cissnei said.
"It's fine. I think I understand. Before I left Kalm, I always looked out west, towards the sea. Like something called me. Turns out, something did. And...it feels right. Like this is what I'm meant to do."
Any protest she might have had died on her lips as she saw Jessie give her the brightest smile she had ever seen on her face, and Cissnei couldn't help but return it. "...If that's what you want, I'll support you."
"That's also good. Because you're going to have to protect her," Aerith said. "But I think that's not going to be hard, hm?"
Cissnei felt heat rush into her face at those words. Yes, it wouldn't be hard at all.
"Well," Zack said, clapping Cloud on the back. "All's well that ends well!"
"The town could've used a mechanic," Cloud mumbled.
"Now then!" Aerith addressed them all with a huge grin. "I dunno about you, but I'm getting hungry. So how about we head back?"
"Yeah. Sounds good," Jessie said and took a step forward, but almost collapsed if not for Cissnei holding her.
"Don't worry, I've got you," Cissnei said and placed Jessie's arm around her shoulders to support her.
"Heh, thanks. Guess I'm more tired than I thought," Jessie said while Cissnei guided her to the entrance of the cave.
"Running up a mountain trail does that."
The two of them followed the other three as they led the way back to town.
"So...you know this Zack guy?" Jessie asked.
"It's a long story that is better told sitting down. There's a lot that I've never told you about me."
"Yeah, you're still kinda a mystery to me," Jessie playfully groused.
"I know." Cissnei took in a deep breath of fresh, mountain air. "But, not any longer."
"Mhm. Alright."
Cissnei released a little sigh. "So what are we going to do next?"
"First let's get some food. Then some sleep. And after that..." Jessie smiled and looked up at the sky where the first stars were shining brightly. "Let's go home."
Home.
Home sounded wonderful.